MERCOSUR: another attempt to undermine EU agriculture

As the European Commission reportedly prepares to present the EU-Mercosur agreement for ratification tomorrow, Farm Europe and Eat Europe strongly denounce this move as a damaging political shortcut that threatens the integrity of European agriculture and the credibility of the EU’s environmental and climate commitments.

“Coming on the heels of the deeply flawed MFF package agreed in July and the recent imbalanced trade deal with the United States, this attempt to push through an agreement that remains unchanged in substance—particularly in its agricultural chapter—highlights a serious disconnect between political declarations and real policy choices, confirming the line President von der Leyen is taking in the recent months, against her own commitments last year” said Yves Madre, President of Farm Europe.

This latest initiative is yet another sign that agriculture is being treated not as a strategic asset, but as a bargaining chip. If confirmed, it will add to a series of negative developments for EU farmers in recent months—from cuts to the CAP budget to concessions granted in transatlantic negotiations—demonstrating that the agricultural sector is falling ever lower on the EU’s list of priorities.

Luigi Scordamaglia, President of Eat Europe, underlined that “The suggestion that this agreement could somehow encourage Mercosur countries to move towards more sustainable production is misleading. The deal contains no binding commitments, no enforceable sustainability clauses, and no credible mechanisms for accountability. Any claims of environmental progress are, at best, aspirational. In its current form – continued Scordamaglia – the EU-Mercosur agreement is fundamentally incompatible with the EU’s own political and policy coherence—especially regarding climate targets, environmental standards, and fair trade principles. It would directly undermine the EU’s key agricultural value chains and expose European farmers to unfair competition from producers operating under significantly lower standards for environmental protection, food safety, and animal welfare”.

We therefore urge the decision makers to show responsibility and immediately reconsider moving forward with this agreement. As it stands, the EU-Mercosur deal would:

• Weaken the EU’s internal agricultural market and threaten the viability of rural economies;
• Undermine the principle of reciprocity by allowing imports produced under lower standards;
•  Jeopardize the EU’s environmental and climate objectives;
• Erode the EU’s credibility as a global leader in sustainable development.

Trade agreements can be powerful tools for economic growth—but only when they are built on fairness, reciprocity, and environmental responsibility. The EU-Mercosur deal fails on all these fronts.

Instead of opening the floodgates to powerful agri-food giants in Latin America, the European Union must stand up for its producers, safeguard high standards for its consumers, and chart a new, ambitious vision for agriculture and food systems—one grounded in sustainability, resilience, and the strength of the “Made in Europe” model.